The Engineering Staff Ombuds serves as a neutral, confidential, and informal resource who listens, offers informal guidance, provides information, offers options, seeks explanations, and makes referrals.
Services:
- Gathers information and offer referrals to other resources.
- Facilitates communication.
- Identifies opportunities for systemic change for the organization and may make recommendations for institutional improvements.
- Assists in directing individuals to appropriate Texas A&M Engineering and/or The Texas A&M University System office as it pertains to an issue.
- Provides guidance in solving the issue.
- Assists in conflict resolution at an informal level.
- Refers individuals to formal grievance resources.
- Aids in conflict management and resolution.
- Serves as a non-voting member of the Engineering Staff Advisory Council.
What an Ombuds does:
- Operates to serve the best interests of Texas A&M Engineering and its staff.
- Provides impartial and objective assessment as a neutral party.
- Serves as an advocate for fair administration of processes.
- Creates a safe environment for staff to voice concerns, evaluate issues and identify options.
- Respects the confidentiality and privacy, to the extent where additional individuals are to be involved to maintain a safe environment.
- Listens to issues while remaining neutral with respect to the facts.
What an Ombuds does not do:
- Does not make formal decisions or override the decision of others.
- Does not participate in a formal complaint process or investigations.
- Does not advocate for a specific party or cause.
- Does not make policy but can help to interpret policy.
- Does not participate in formal processes such as a grievance procedures or legal matters.
When to visit the Staff Ombuds:
- Experiencing conflict with a coworker or supervisor
- Ethical concerns
- Harassment or discrimination concerns
- Questions about policies or procedures
- Dealing with organizational change
- Needing confidential resources
- Experiencing career challenges
- Work-life balance concerns
- Challenging work dynamics
Contact your Staff Ombuds
Katie Cates
Email: engrstaffombuds@tamu.edu
Phone: 979-458-7693
Voicemail messages and emails are confidential and received only by the engineering staff ombuds.
Appointments
To accommodate the needs of Texas A&M Engineering staff, appointments may be scheduled by phone, through a virtual meeting, or in person at one of the following locations on the Texas A&M University campus:
- Wisenbaker Engineering Building, Room 071
- Zachry Engineering Education Complex, Suite 531
To schedule a confidential session, please submit the Ombuds Confidential Intake Form, or email engrstaffombuds@tamu.edu.